Colleges lauded for addressing tobacco use on campus
BANGOR — The Maine Tobacco-Free College Network held an awards ceremony on Nov. 17 to celebrate the efforts of Maine institutions of higher education to address tobacco use on their campuses. The event featured the announcement of the 2011 Maine Tobacco-Free College Network’s Gold Star Standards of Excellence Recognition Program award winners. Eight Maine schools and three individual champions were recognized for their achievements in advancing their campus tobacco-free policies and promoting tobacco-free lifestyles for their communities.
All Maine institutions of higher education, including colleges, universities and technical schools, were considered in the Gold Star Standards of Excellence program. Award levels are based on criteria such as tobacco-free campus policy, tobacco cessation information availability for students, faculty and staff, prohibiting tobacco product distribution on campus and divestment of all tobacco investments. Programs recognized in the inaugural year of this annual program are:
• Seven Star Honorees — Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle; University of Maine at Machias; University of Maine at Presque Isle and University of New England;
• Eight Star Honoree — Unity College;
• Nine Star Honorees — Kennebec Valley Community College and University of Maine Hutchinson Center; and
• Ten Star Honoree — University of Maine at Orono.
Representatives from all eight honored schools attended the celebration event. Additionally, the Maine Tobacco-Free College Network recognized three Individual Gold Stars who were nominated for their efforts in leading the tobacco-free initiatives on campus. Recognized for this honor were John Delile and Barbara Larrson from Kennebec Valley Community College and Bethany Fortier from the University of New England.
“Colleges and universities seek to create a healthy and safe environment to learn, live and work. Addressing tobacco use on campus is an example of this commitment and benefits students, faculty, staff and visitors. We are pleased to be able to recognize the achievements of these schools through the Gold Star Standards of Excellence program,” said Sarah Mayberry of the Maine Tobacco-Free College Network.
The awards ceremony provided an opportunity for each school to share successes and challenges of their efforts to create a tobacco-free campus environment and promote tobacco-free lifestyles. While many addressed challenges when first adopting new campus policies and initiatives, all shared that addressing tobacco use on campus is an important health and environmental strategy for their schools.
For more information about the Maine Tobacco-Free College Network and the Gold Star Standards of Excellence recognition program, visit www.MaineTobaccoFreeCollegeNetwork.org or call Sarah Mayberry at 874-8774. The Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network’s (MTFHN) website: www.mainetobaccofreecollegenetwork.org offers information for school administrators, staff and student groups and provides information to enable endorsement or implementation of smoke-free policies. The website also includes tobacco facts, recent research and news, model college policies and more.
